Sweet Leaf Tea Co. launched a line of teas packaged in 16-ounce aluminum cans in six flavors, including two new flavors. The cans are available in The Original Sweet Tea, Mint & Honey Green Tea, Peach Iced Tea, Raspberry Iced Tea and new, Lemon Iced Tea and Citrus Green Tea. The varieties are USDA certified organic. Lemon Iced Tea and Citrus Green Tea are scheduled to launch in January, the company says. Designed specifically for the convenience store channel, a 16-ounce can retails for $1.29.
Sunkist Naturals added Sunkist Naturals Orange Cream, Berries & Cream and Piña Colada to its line of smoothies. The flavors now contain 20 grams of whey protein with amino acids, the company says. Sunkist Naturals also released Sunkist Naturals Coconut Water, a sports beverage with electrolytes, the company says. Coconut Water contains 50 calories per serving. The varieties are available in 15.2-ounce bottles.
The Healthy Beverage Co. introduced Steaz Zero Calorie Sparking Green Tea, a zero-calorie carbonated soft drink. The product offers 120 mg. of tea antioxidants, the company says. Steaz Zero Calorie Sparkling Green Tea is available in Raspberry, Orange, Blueberry, Pomegranate and Black Cherry varieties. It is certified organic by Quality Assurance International as well as Fair Trade certified by TransFair USA. A four-pack of 12-ounce glass bottles retails for $4.99.
Firestone Walker Brewing Co. released Black Xantus, a limited-edition nectar beer. Black Xantus is a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout infused with coffee. Black Xantus has chocolate, espresso and bourbon aromas and flavors, the company says. The name comes from a rare hummingbird species found in Mexico. Only 500 cases of the 22-ounce beer will be produced, and a bottle is priced at $15.
Shadow Beverages and Snacks introduced Ironclad Energy & Hydration, a hybrid sports and energy drink. Ironclad Energy & Hydration is offered in Triple Citrus, Goji Berry and sugar-free Black and Blue with Black Currant flavors. The sports and energy drinks are packaged in 16-ounce cans and available in select markets nationwide. A can retails for $2.39.
New Leaf Brands introduced Sweet Tea, a blend of black tea and evaporated organic cane sugar. A serving contains 24 grams of sugar compared with the company’s other flavors that contain 19 grams. A 16.9-ounce bottle retails for $1.59.
Skyy Spirits, a subsidiary of Italy’s Gruppo Campari, added ginger to its line of infused vodka. Skyy Infusions Ginger has notes of spiced and juiced ginger, roasted oranges and cinnamon, the company says. The all-natural vodka is available in 50-ml. bottle for a suggested retail price of $1.99, 750-ml. package for $18.49, and 1-liter bottle for $26.49.
Rob’s Really Good launched a line of bottled beverages of the same name, including iced teas, herbal teas and juices. The line is organic and themed around abundance and optimism, the company says. Rob’s Really Good is available in 14-ounce glass bottles in varieties, such as Half & Half (iced tea and lemonade), Agave Mate, Chocolate Tea, and Malaysian Hibiscus.
In Zone Brands Inc. introduced TummyTickler Tots, a reduced sugar apple juice for toddlers ages 1 to 3 years old. The drinks were formulated with 40 percent less sugar, no artificial flavors, colors and sweeteners, and packaged in 4-ounce bottles and 125-ml. juice boxes. The bottles have a kid-grip bottle shape and spill-proof sippy spout with licensed tops featuring characters such as Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, Bob the Builder and Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Akvinta Vodka announced its Mediterranean vodka is now available in the U.S. market. Akvinta is triple distilled and filtered through a patented quintuple filtration process, which consists of five filters: birch charcoal, marble, silver, gold and platinum. The product is packaged in a clear bottle to highlight that the vodka contains sparkling spring water from Dalmatia. Akvinta is available in 750-ml. and 1-liter bottles.